FAZ in K1.6m Levy debt

THE Football Association of Zambia (FAZ)â€™s debts to Levy Mwanawasa Stadium management have soared to K1.6 million, Copperbelt Minister Bowman Lusambo has disclosed.The association used the stadium during the 2017 Gabon Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Congo-Brazzaville and Kenya.
The 40,100-capacity stadium also hosted the 2018 Russia World Cup qualifier between Zambia and Nigeria on October 9.
Lusambo told Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development acting permanent secretary Alfonso Banda when the former paid a courtesy call on him in Ndola on Thursday.
He said there is need for FAZ to clear the debt so that the management can use the money to look after the master-piece facility.
Levy Mwanawasa Stadium is one of the venues for the 2017 Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations billed for February 26 to March 12.
Lusambo, however, did not disclose the period FAZ accumulated the bill.
â€œAlso at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, FAZ has a lot of arrears there and I donâ€™t know if you have considered paying them. They owe the management there about K1.6 million. So it will be important if you put Levy Mwanawasa Stadium management into consideration as you prepare for the tournament,â€ Lusambo said.
But chief sports development officer Gibson Muyaule said FAZ has promised to settle the bill in instalments.
â€œWe wrote to FAZ and they have written back to us that they will be paying in phases until they clear the debt,â€ he said.
And Levy Mwanawasa Stadium management director Mwifwa Ngâ€™ambi said they, too, have engaged FAZ over the matter.
â€œWe have written to them [FAZ] but they have been telling us stories. Itâ€™s up to them to put their house in order and pay us,â€ he said.
However, FAZ treasurer Rix Mweemba admitted that Football House owes Levy Mwanawasa Stadium management.
Mweemba said FAZ paid K370,000 for the use of the stadium for the Congo-Brazzaville and Nigeria games.
Meanwhile, Lusambo said during the tournament, parking of vehicles along the Ndola-Kitwe dual carriage way will not be allowed.
â€œAs the province, we will not allow the parking of vehicles along the Ndola-Kitwe dual carriage way and I want to work with FAZ in sensitising our people against wrong parking,â€ Lusambo said.